Cultural Landscape Diversity and the Implications for Management

Extreme Challenges Facing the Conservation of the Lake Burley Griffin and the Lakeshore Landscape — a Community Parkland Space

Extreme Challenges Facing the Conservation of the Lake Burley Griffin and the Lakeshore Landscape — a Community Parkland Space.

In the 21st Century, community parkland landscapes have become vulnerable to exploitation by political financial interest groups. The associated values that are under threat are – environmental qualities, views and vistas, significant landscape experiences, community health and recreation resources, and particularly, intergenerational equity.

Using Lake Burley Griffin as a case study, this presentation explores how 21st Century land economics and developer driven strategies have over-ridden and unravelled expert urban planning and design while also ignoring well-supported heritage values. The paper commences with the story of Lake Burley Griffin and its lakeshore landscape and covers a summary of the lake’s planning and development processes and the community advocacy undertaken, including its disheartening outcomes. It explores the promulgation of false spin and ignored community concerns for a government program that promotes development at the expense of the ethos of heritage.